Kids sport is a good investment: Newman

Nathan Paull

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has justified using part of the money saved from sacking thousands of public servants to triple funding for children’s sport.

Mr Newman and Sport Minister Steve Dickson on Sunday announced the government wll increase its Get in the Game grassroots sports initiative from $16 million over three years to $47.8 million over the same period.

The funding provides grants of up to $150 for kids to joins sporting clubs.It also offers grants of $10,000 and $100,000 for clubs to purchase equipment or renew facilities respectively.

The boost comes after the Liberal National Party (LNP) government last year sacked 14,000 public servants to help reduce debt it inherited from the previous Labor government.

But Mr Newman says the extra money is a small commitment that will save the state much more in the future.

‘‘We’ve made a lot of tough decisions over the last year,’’ he told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.

‘‘(But) money into a program like this ultimately benefits everybody in the community because an active and healthy society means less pressure on the healthcare system ... through chronic disease like diabetes and obesity.’’

Queensland Firebirds netball captain Laura Geitz, who was at the announcement, said the funding would help young regional athletes get their ‘‘big break’’.